BLEU et BLANC

Chine de Bleu et Blanc , original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Blue and white china seems inherently French for no good reason other than you see an awful lot of French Ultramarine blue in France.
Like this irresistable blue milk jug I could not pass by in Cuisinophile...
Or Corinne's grandmere's bleu et blanc china on her white lace tableclothe... The manderines give it the "Matisse" touch don't they?
Di Overton of Designers Block sent me this shot of mini blue and white china at the outdoor antique fair in the Bastille..
There was a big pile of blue and white with a toile pattern at the gift shop at Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. Really you could easily spend all your time in that fab shop!
Steve Wall in Chicago sent me shots of his wife, Susan's china collection...
All blue and white and to die for non?
My collection...ahem and not just bleu et blanc either. A mini collector can not be too choosey.
A final shot of Corinne's Paris window on Boulevard Michel - the light is so blue-grey non?
BONNE JOURNEE

WET PAINT

When I was in Paris in March there was tons of paint being thrown about!
YSL's windows were full of it...
Like these shoes for just 470 Euros (!!!)
Course I noticed these gents outside the YSL boutique hard at work...
Here are the paints - were they responsible for YSL's new look???
Across the way over at Christian Lacroix this thrown paint gown!
Don't even think about asking le prix, ma cherie...

A painted bag in another boutique - 239 Euros
I know you're hungry...it's breakfast - so a "thrown paint" cake at Bon Marche
True you could always just paint your body...
Well parts of your body, like this big poster at Galerie Lafayette...
Another way to get the "thrown paint" Paris look...
Over at ZAZZLE - a WET PAINT T-Shirt...ahem :)
BONNE JOURNEE & Thanks Di!

Pink Berry

Fraise du Boise, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I was getting in the pink in sunny Philadelphia this past weekend and I forgot to come home and do my blog :)

So here's a bunch of pink berries for you to munch on for your Paris Breakfast...well don't munch on this strawberry pillow!
You can definitely munch on THIS! Me too.
Oooops No munching on the strawberry Eiffle Tower! Where is our strawberry statue of liberty or Empire state building is what I wanna know? HUMPH
A highly munchable glossy chocolate and raspberry gateaux...Oooooo
Please no munching! But these raspberry butcher's coats are pretty divine are they not?
A berry-colored cafe with green chairs - Delicious!
Get out your forks and dive in everyone!
Another delicious strawberry coat on these kidlets fighting over who is going to ride the horsie...

No munching but if you want to get in the pink there's plenty at PB's Zazzle

BONNE JOURNEE!

French Toast

#115 Pink Champagne, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

I'm not talking about the kind of French Toast you put syrup on...

I'm talking about all the weddings and graduations going on... They were toasting champagne at the wedding on Gossip Girl on Monday. And not to forget the wedding on Desperate Housewives finali on Sunday..

Les Jours des Champagne, original watercolor, 9" x 11"
So May and June are the "French Toast" months

Naturally I've been hunting down all the good champagne glasses I can find. I found this one on Ebay...

My collection is ever growing...

If you see a good glass give a shout! Just remember it can be no taller than 1" - 1 1/4"

There's nothing like a good vintage champagne for you French toast..

In a pinch, if you live in Reims you can substitute chocolate bouchons (corks) filled with Marc de Champagne

I'm celebrating BIG TIME and breaking open a special bottle for the ocassion. Remember the photos I showed you that PB reader, Yuko send me from Japan of the Pierre Herme macaron keychains? Yesterday they arrived in the mail! YIPPEE

This long weekend when your pouring out your champers...

Remember not to over do it...ahem

BONNE JOURNEE

Fetes Des Meres

#114 Fetes Des Meres, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

If you live in Paris this Sunday is Fetes Des Meres day or Mother's Day.
So you are probably busy rushing around and getting on lines to buy some dragees (candy-coated almonds) for Mum.
These pretty cornets are from Laduree...
Dragees are given on every celebratory occasion - weddings, babtisms, you name it. And usually in pastel colors...
But Bon Marche had jar after big jar of brilliantly colored dragee as well as the pretty pastels.
I spoted these BLUE dragee in a gift shop in the Marais.. Blue food used to be a no-no.
And they come ready wrapped as favors for a kid's party...
Then there is always the ever present macaron - the perfect gift for anyone at all.
Pierre Herme send out an email titled, "Have you called your mother?" And Aquarelle.com sent one today with the message, "Fete des Meres: c'est maintenant ou jamais !" (Mother's Day: It's now or never! Buy a bouquet!) Of course if you're not in Paris you don't have to lift a finger. Been there, done that already.
BONNE JOURNEE

Le musee du parfum

#114 French perfume, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Here's something you can do in Paris that's fun, FREE and open every day of the week!
Visit Le Musee du Parfum on 9, rue Scribe Metro:Opera
You go up a winding staircase (as almost all staircases are in Paris) and you're greeted by endless display cases of...
Antique perfume bottles of every era and material.
Historic containers...
Was perfume inside of this porcelaine vase?
A toiletry set to dream on...
A little something for your purse..
Or pocket..?
After room upon room of perfume paraphrenalia you go downstairs and get to choose from Fragonards vast selection.
Or you could don this chic jasmine gatherer's outfit, run out the front door, grab a train to Grasse and go pick your own perfume.
You choose!
BONNE JOURNEE

Spring Green

Paris color post today. "Spring Green" was all over town in March and since Spring is passing so quickly I thought I better get on it VITE!
When you see a trend in Paris it shows up in EVERYTHING. Head-to-foot.
Like these "baskets" or high tops for your feet...
And in eye shadow...
Spring green Japanese tea pots...
Giant green cups for your green tea...
Sirop de cactus in Galerie Lafayette. What the hell is that?
Spring green chocolate boxes at Cocoa et Chocolat..
Ordinary spring green vegetables look chic here...
And the REAL Spring green in the flower marche by the Seine...
BONNE JOURNEE

French Tea

#113 French High Tea, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Everyone thinks it's the British that started the whole tea thing but...
But in fact, according to reknown letter-writer, Madame de Sévigné (1626 to 1696), tea first arrived in Paris in 1636 (22 years before it appeared in England!) and quickly became popular among the aristocracy
Even Marie-Antoinette took tea all the time. And it was a Frenchwoman, the Marquise de la Sablière, who initiated the fashion of adding milk to tea. "Madame de la Sablière took her tea with milk, as she told me the other day, because it was to her taste" reported Madame de Sévigné. (By the way, the English delighted in this "French touch" and immediately adopted it.)
I have Carole Manchester's French Tea (lurking around here somewhere) and I will find it and finally read it instead of just looking at the beautiful pictures...ahem
I once was brave and went upstairs and took a delightful afternoon tea at Fauchon. The upstairs renovation is complete now and I'll visit next time. I did peek in Laduree's windows...
And even went inside to meet M. for tea!
Yesterday Rochelle asked me: I'm taking my parents to Paris next week and I'd love to take them to a lovely salon de the or pastry shop. What would you recommend that's wonderful and has great atmosphere but isn't crazily expensive?
Hmmm...may I suggest the original Laduree on rue Royal with the gorgeous painted cupid ceilings? A pot of tea and shared macarons shouldn't break the bank...hopefully...
As you can see I can take French tea anytime I want at chez ParisBreakfast...and first chance I'll get this new Re-ment French tea tier soon I hope.
BONNE JOURNEE

My Zazzle

OK So they say it's my BIRTHDAY

Hey what's it to ya!!!
Well I decided to give myself a few presents... In fact my "wishlist" is quite long. I've been meaning to get these "gifts" for some time...
Instead of boxes from Laduree...how about a gift stamp?
And a macaron mouse pad?
And Macarons on a greeting card..? What do you think?
Hot chocolate at Laduree..?

I'll take tea at the Paris Ritz* on a note card or a stamp.
A bouquet from Aquarelle..?
Never mind. I'll have a Marie-Antoinette rose on a mug please.

Quite a few of you have asked for ParisBreakfast notecards and prints and whatnot..
Enfin you can drink your coffee out of a ParisBreakfast cup!
Much more stuff is coming - like Angelina etc I promise.
Please visit my brand new ZAZZLE*
And excuse my birthday suit..I'm still new at this.

THANK YOU All for making the Paris Petit Dejeuner card* the most popular on Zazzle - not sure what that means exactly but, now you can get it 20% off with FREE SHIPPING YAY At least until May 22nd...ahem
BONNE JOURNEE !

A Priori The

#112 L'heure du The, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

More teapots today - this time in Paris YAY
My last day in Paris (why do you always try to do too much the last day in Paris?)
I paid a visit to the Galerie Vivienne, one of Paris' most elegant Passage couverts (covered passages). It wasconstructed in 1823 by Marchoux. You can find it in the 2e arrondissement on 4, rue des Petits Champs. Metro: Bourse
A Priori The salon has been there since 1980
The door says they open at 9 AM
The waiter inside said non, they open at 12:15
It was 12 noon...Hmmmm
Quelle domage. Their card matches the terrifically patterned tiled floor of Galerie Vivienne by the way.
I'll just have to return another last day in Paris...

Mean while back on the home front another teapot arrived in the mail, this time from Hong Kong! Note the spout is blocked. This is not a working teapot :( Should I return to sender?
In fact I have a total of 9/ NINE ! mini teapots altogether, so I will try to be less greedy in the future :) Dream on...

BONNE JOURNEE !

Tiny Teapots

French tea with chocolates, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Thank you for sending me your photos of your tiny teapots!

Susanne in Paris sent me pictures of her tiny Limoge china teaset.
Exquisite! But the teapot is 2 1/2" high. Too big. I feel like Cinderella...
Lori of taste with the eyes sent me pictures of an amazing tea party 7th graders put on for 8th graders. More elegant than I've ever had at the Mariage Freres or Hotel Meurice. Take a look!

Sue of abrushwithcolor sent me her lovely teapot picture. Not a mini I'm afraid but if only...

Michelle T. sent this mini cup from the Purse Forum - one of Juicy Coutures charms YUM!

Joni Miller used to give an unforgettable annual Valentines tea party at the Beard house. Now she does these annual teapot calendars so you can party all year long. You can order 2009 now or forget about it...

Jackie sent me pictures of a "Made in Thailand" tea set that looks a close relative of the teapot I bought at the Paris Doll Museum. Note "Butch" got into the act here...

Another sweet tiny tea set from Jackie. This is "Katie" stepping into the shot.
Jackie has 10 other cats she's rescued waiting in the wings or busy taking tea!
Please send me any interesting photos of Paris or teasets or whatever.
I love seeing what you've discovered.
BONNE JOURNEE!

Macarons Abroad

#111 Emotion Pierre Herme, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Access to French macarons is not readily available if you live in the US for the most part.

However if you are lucky enough to live in Japan, things are different. Not only are French macarons shops on almost every corner...well it looks like that to me. But there is a ton of macaron toys and souvenirs to be had! HUMPH! PB reader Yuko N. kindly sent me these photos. Yuko has only to go out and buy a bottle of Lipton Tea and she gets a Pierre Herme Macaron key chain FREE!

LOOK! Pierre Herme chocolate key chains and ice cream sandwich key chains!

The French expression, "cela me donne l'eau a la bouche" (this wets my appetite) definitely fits here. THANK YOU Yuko for sending the lovely photos!

Meanwhile in Paris, M. wants me to know that there are stacks and stacks of Macaron...
Books waiting at FNAC to be gobbled up.
YUM!
I admit to buying this book a few trips back - it looked so delicious. Unfortunately my french cooking skills are not yet up to snuff...ahem The charming foot belongs to M. by the way.
Well here is the REAL THING we all dream about. And maybe it's a good thing to just dream - so many calories as my sister reminds me...
BONNE JOURNEE

Teapot Onboard

#110 Tiny Doll Teapot, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

A good teapot is hard to find...

Believe me I looked all over Paris. These Apilco teapots were at BHV.

This set was display at Musee de la Poupee Paris was perfect! But not for sale of course.

I did buy this teapot at the Doll museum.
Sadly they told me, not only was it not vintage, it was probably from China... Not even French.

Last week I went for my weekly jaunt to Tiny Doll House looking for a bud vase...ahem

There was a plethora of adorable mini teapots calling out to me.

Jeanette, Mistress of Long Ears Manor (she hunts rabbits or so she claims) asked, "Are these all miniatures that you're painting lately?"

Well yes they are..mostly. It's much easier to get good lighting and nice shadows with the minis. And all I need is my desk lamp.

And here is the perfect teapot! Naturally I brought along a cup and macaron from home for the test run. SIZE is everything when you're searching for the right teapot!
I resisted this tea towel, but the memory lingers on... Should I get it? Yes or no?
I'm still crazy for these Parisien glass teapots or any glass teapot for that matter.
This tiny Re-ment Disney 50's Cafe teapot will have to do till something better comes along. If you see a good teapot (preferably 3/4" high) please give a shoutout. I'm still looking...

BONNE JOURNEE

Paris Cafe Tables

Paris Tea, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

There's something about a vacated Paris cafe tabletop that always catches my eye.
I spotted an irresistable cafe table my first night in Paris in this jewelry shop window...
Here on the terrace at Cafe de la Mairie in the 6th...
My leftovers at Cafe Vavin also in the 6th...
I added the madeleine to this empty cafe table top - it needed a touch of color.
Here hot chocolate with M. at Chocolat Foucher YUM!
Can we forget those tables at Laduree? NEVER!
A Perrier at Cafe Le Select...
The tip stratigically placed on top of a saucer - so French non?
My tabletop at Boulangerie PAUL waiting to be devoured...
This cafe tabletop I would have loved to have brought home in Pain D'Epices window.
Not for sale!
BONNE JOURNEE!

JAM

Christine Ferber for Pierre Herme confiture, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Can we ever have too much jam?

Maybe I should re-phrase that... Can I ever have too much jam, preserves, confiture?

Christine Ferber Confiture, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Just give me a spoon and a good jar of jam and I'm as happy as a clam.

Which is why I can never bring jam into the house. I'll eat it!

It's also why Paris is one land mine after another for me.

Everywhere you go there is jam (confiture) staring you in the face like here at Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. - ahhhh...pear with walnuts.. YUM!

Did you know that ANGELINA sells JAM!? YUP they do.

Chocolate jam at Le Valentine...Lordie
My dad used to make strawberries preserves in the summer - he was from Iowa. And my grandmother used to sometimes arrive bearing gifts of giant jars of cherry preserves from Wanamakers department store... is that the root of my obsession?
These days all I'm allowed is very tiny jars of jam :(
Doll house size in fact... Quelle domage
Course Maxie can have all the jam he wants. Here he is at cafe Le Valentine in the 9th...
What's your favorite jam?

Apricot?

Framboise? (raspberry)

Quatre Fruits Rouges? (four red fruits)
BONNE JOURNEE!

L'Orange

Persimmons a L'Orange, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I started painting these Japanese persimmons because I wanted to do a post on all the ORANGE I saw in Paris. Not that I saw anyone walking around dressed totally in orange. Not at all. More like strong accents here and there of color that left an impression...
A real orange in Boulangerie Paul's window still life...
And piles of real oranges you can sink your teeth into in the marche.
But here as a strong accent in the home, Herve Gambs silk everlasting flowers seen in the new Galerie Lafayette Home store.
An orange seat in the Metro...
In the window of the Orange mobile store...

Plus a giant carrot! Representing what? The carrot on the stick?
Thanks Gawd for The Euro Diet.

I resisted just by a nano second buying these yummy orangy caramel madeleines.

Maybe next time...

Orange accents for men!
Outside my door on Sunday the furniture repair man had these mini models of orangy wood Empire (?) pieces he can whip up for you.
And at Le Bon Marche - the piece de resistance.
Passion fruit gateaux!
Does this make you want to drink your orange juice:)
BONNE JOURNEE!

Wedding Gateaux

Wedding Gateaux, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Another thing I was looking for in Paris was a nice wedding gateaux (cake) to paint...

And I finally found it at Pain D'Epices along with some nice silverware and a nice new Teddy and, and, and...
Course there's nothing wrong with Laduree's wedding cake...except for the size.
La Maison du chocolat Wedding Favors, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Quite a few of you wanted to know if those were Tiffany boxes
In the post on La Maison du Chocolat's hot chocolate. Nope. They are their new wedding favors containing 2 Guayaquil chocolates - pure dark chocolate ganache with a hint of vanilla. YUM YUM
One thing I love to do in Paris is run around at night and take pictures of the windows. Probably why I came home a complete wreck from running both day and night! :)
I found Nathalie Durieux's robes de mariée boutique on rue de St. Peres and she was still working as I was. She's reknown for her unconventional wedding gowns - jewels butterflies flowers pleats birds dreams fairy enchantment creating the dress of your dreams...
More YUM YUM
Seen in the Metro -wouldn't that be fun to attend!
And don't forget fleurist AQUARELLE's beautiful bouquets

BONNE JOURNEE !

Sakura Murakami

Japanese tea and Dorothy's Persimmons, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I have always professed to love all things Japanese like teapots and woodblock prints for example.

So how could I miss the Sakura Matsuri Cherry blossom festival at the Brooklyn Museum yesterday.

Plus the weather "people" were wrong again! No rain. Only sunny warm weather.
And every New Yorker showed up.
I arrived in just in time to catch the performers doing their Frank Sinatra New York, New York number. HUMPH !
Lots of pink cherry blossom things to buy like L'Ocidente body creams and notebooks and T-shirts and...and...and...
Just next door to the Botanical Gardens at the Brooklyn Museum of Art another flower show was going on - the Takashi Murakami retrospective.
And just as flowery an experience...
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !
You could also lose some serious bucks at the Murikami - Vuiton shop in the middle of the exhibit...ahem
The show is on from April 5–July 13, 2008 and is a "don't-miss"
For the Cherry Blossom Festival - you'll have to come back next year I'm afraid..
*Thank you Dorothy for lending me your mini persimmons to paint*
BONNE JOURNEE !

French Silver

Pierre Herme Ispahan, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Choosing a silver pattern is a tricky thing...

I looked all over Paris for a decent spoon...not that I'm a spoon collector or anything...
Pierre Herme Green Dessert, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

But searching for anything in Paris is always an adventure...

So why not silverware?
The antique shops are full of it like at Portobello on 56, rue Notre-Dame des Champs in the 6th arrondissement...
Tons of it!
Does everyone in Paris end up selling their silverware?
This plethora of knife rests were at Vaux le Vicomte..
Here tables are being set for the evening crowd at Le Comptoir, Paris’s hottest reservation in the 6th...
I wasn't particularly looking for a picnic set but they are plentyful in Paris.
This blurry (stolen) shot was in the Marie-Antoinette boutique at at the Grand Palais exhibit. I think I need a press badge...hmmmm
At last! I find just the right silverware set for me and my minis.
OK Now everyone can dig in!
BONNE JOURNEE

Chocolate Ribbons

Rose teapot and chocolate, original watercolor, sold, 9" x 11"

Everywhere I turned in Paris there were bows, bows, bows.

French ribbons all over every single piece of Parisien Easter chocolate for sure!
Corey's Rose teacup, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

French ribbons are not to be ignored. Particularly since the ribbon industry started in St. Etienne in the 11th century.

Organza pink ribbon and French perfum are a perfect match.
A bow-tied slipper...
Embroidered ribbons used as a decorative motif are ever present like here at the Musee Carnavalet.
The Marie-Antoinette exhibit at the Grand Palais is what made me sit up and take notice of French ribbon - this hairdo guide at the show. Now I'm reading the unputdownable Antonia Fraser biography of Marie-Antoinette...
But ribbons were not just decorative touches - they held things on like a hat or were tied around a waist - they were the zipper of their day.
Of course ribbons as painted decoration on a wall - does anyone do it better than the French? Here at Chateau Vaux le Vicomte.
And here in an old boulangerie in the 18th arrondissement, wall ribbons keep the croissants safe from greedy fingers.
Here is a do-it-yourself wall treatment you can buy at department store BHV.
So when I saw this box of John & Kira's chocolates decked out in wired French ribbon I had to get it and paint it. The chocolates inside are flavored with lavender and ginger and bergamot and lemongrass! YUM !
Still this wall of ribbon at Laduree beckons... When I asked for a bit of their satin signature ribbon for my little chocolate box, they were more than generous!
Now what to do with this precious ribbon?
All suggestions will be considered seriously.